Abu Gharib: Mistreatment Was Routine, Soldiers Say

Two soldiers and an officer with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division have told a human rights organization of systemic detainee abuse and human
rights violations at U.S. bases in Afghanistan and Iraq, recounting beatings, forced physical exertion and psychological torture of prisoners, the
group said.

A 30-page report by Human Rights Watch describes an Army captain's 17-month effort to gain clear understanding of how U.S. soldiers were supposed to
treat detainees, and depicts his frustration with what he saw as widespread abuse that the military's leadership failed to address. The Army officer
made clear that he believes low-ranking soldiers have been held responsible for abuse to cover for officers who condoned it.

The report does not identify the two sergeants and a captain who gave the accounts, although Capt. Ian Fishback has presented some of his allegations
in a letter to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Their statements included vivid allegations of violence against detainees held at Forward Operating Base Mercury, outside Fallujah, shortly before the
notorious abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison began. The soldiers described incidents similar to those reported in other parts of Iraq -- such as putting
detainees in stress positions, exercising them to the point of total exhaustion, and sleep deprivation.

"Some days we would just get bored so we would have everyone sit in a corner and then make them get in a pyramid," an unidentified sergeant
who worked at the base from August 2003 to April 2004 told Human Rights Watch. "This was before Abu Ghraib but just like it. We did that for
amusement."

In addition to talking to Human Rights Watch, Fishback has made his concerns known in a series of signed letters and memos sent to Capitol Hill.
Fishback, a West Point graduate who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, wrote that no one in his chain of command has been able to give him a clear
explanation of what humane treatment is, and he believes that US soldiers have regularly violated the Geneva Conventions by torturing detainees and
taking family members hostage as a means of coercion.

"Despite my efforts, I have been unable to get clear, consistent answers from my leadership about what constitutes lawful and humane treatment of
detainees," Fishback wrote in a Sept. 16 letter to McCain, a member of the Armed Services Committee and a former prisoner of war in Vietnam. "I am
certain that this confusion contributed to a wide range of abuses including death threats, beatings, broken bones, murder, exposure to elements,
extreme forced physical exertion, hostage-taking, stripping, sleep deprivation and degrading treatment." Fishback, reached by telephone
yesterday, declined to comment.

Obviously the Soliders that were ORDERED to perform such Abuses can not hold it in any longer: this time soldiers from US Army's 82nd Airborne
Division have told a human rights organization of systemic detainee abuse and human rights violations at U.S. bases in Afghanistan and Iraq,
recounting beatings, forced physical exertion and psychological torture of prisoners.

It's older news but, that female General took a lot of the heat for I feel. Yes certain Soldiers did but that Lady, seems to me, took a
lot..mayhap's just due to not knowing what was going on under her command.

But I can really believe that either. She reported it to that Lt General Remiraz or whatever his name was. I understood at that time, he signed an
order that both the CIA and the Army Intelligence people had full control of the methods of interegation.

I'm not sure exactly what the reality of it all was, but I do feel tha tBrig Gen Lady was not in total control over the prison and even protested to
Lt Gen Remiraz or whatever his name is, at that time.

Originally posted by Dallas
I can only guess and you seem like a facts guy..but I'll give my guess anyway CIA - Director (then) George Tenant. Army Intel- No Idea. But I suppose
we are headed higher above, are we not?

I am prepared to Say that Donald had something to do with it also - along with the enitre Staff of Bush Administration. I think that CIA and current
administration Work Very Well togather.

"We would give them blows to the head, chest, legs and stomach, and pull them down, kick dirt on them," one sergeant told Human Rights Watch
researchers during one of four interviews in July and August. "This happened every day."

"They wanted intel," said the sergeant, an infantry fire-team leader who served as a guard when no military police soldiers were available. "As
long as no PUC's came up dead, it happened." He added, "We kept it to broken arms and legs."

Captain Fishback, who has served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, gave Human Rights Watch and Senate aides his long account only after his
efforts to report the abuses to his superiors were rebuffed or ignored over 17 months, according to Senate aides and John Sifton, one of the Human
Rights Watch researchers who conducted the interviews. Moreover, Captain Fishback has expressed frustration at his civilian and military leaders for
not providing clear guidelines for the proper treatment of prisoners.

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